CLACKAMAS, Ore. — It’s finally cooled down for Wilder Baseball Team at the 12-team Clackamas, Ore., tournament but Wilder remains hot as it cruises into today’s semifinals.
Wilder is 3-0 after winning games Friday and Saturday, and will play powerhouse Westview of Beaverton, Ore., in the semifinals today at Clackamas High School.
The North Olympic Peninsula team wilted under 104-degree heat Thursday but was playing in low- to mid-80s temperature Saturday.
“It was nice weather [Saturday],” Wilder coach Rob Merritt said.
The semifinal winner advances to the tourney championship game later today while the loser plays for third-fourth place.
“I’m looking forward to playing Westview,” Merritt said about today’s game.
“It won’t be an easy game for us. Westview is a very physical and mature team.”
Westview has a pitcher who throws in the low 90s and who hasn’t played in the tourney yet.
Wilder (22-6) could very well be facing him.
The Port Angeles-based team has had little trouble in the tourney so far, opening by pounding Lake Oswego, Ore., 7-2 in triple-digit heat Thursday, then blanking Aloha, Ore., 8-0 with a four-hitter Friday, and finally ripping Centennial of Gresham, Ore., 10-4 on Saturday.
Wilder concluded pool play with the 8-0 shutout of Aloha.
Port Angeles led 5-0 after three innings and never looked back.
Brandon Bancroft, Austin McConnell and A.J. Konopaski combined for a four-hitter.
Bancroft went the first two innings, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts and a walk while McConnell (1-1) allowed one hit in three innings.
McConnell struck out four batters and walked two.
Konopaski struck out three, walked none and gave up only two hits in the final two innings.
Cody Sullivan led at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Spencer Middleton went 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
Trevor Drake went 1-for-1 with a run while Hayden McCartney had a hit with two RBIs.
Dominating Centennial
A five-run third inning lifted Wilder in Saturday’s game, erasing an early 2-0 Centennial lead.
Wilder also scored two in the second and three in the fourth.
Ryan Aumock (1-0) pitched the first five innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits while striking out two, walking one and hitting a batter.
Cole Uvila threw the final two innings, allowing an earned run on one hit while fanning three and walking three. He also hit a batter.
Konopaski carried the big stick by going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Easton Napiontek was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
McConnell was a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs and an RBI.
Derek Crain, meanwhile, was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Friday’s Game
Wilder 8, Aloha, Ore., 0
Wilder 2 1 2 0 0 1 2 – 8 7 1
Aloha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 4 1
WP- Austin McConnell (1-1)
Pitching Statistics
Wilder: Brandon Bancroft 2 IP (1H, 1BB, 2K); McConnell 3 IP (1H, 4K, 2BB); A.J. Konopaski 2 IP (2H, 3K, 0BB).
Hitting Statistics
Wilder: Cody Sullivan 2-4 (2RBIs, R); Spencer Middleton 1-2 (2B, RBI); Trevor Drake 1-1 (R); Hayden McCartney 1-3 (2RBIs).
Saturday’s Game
Wilder 10, Centennial 4
Centennial 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 – 4 5 3
Wilder 0 2 5 3 0 0 x — 10 12 6
WP- Ryan Aumock (1-0)
Pitching Statistics
Wilder: Aumock 5 IP (1ER, 4H, 2K, 1BB, 1HBP); Cole Uvila 2 IP (1 ER, 1H, 3BB, 3K, 1HBP).
Hitting Statistics
Wilder: Konopaski 2-3 (2B, 2R); Easton Napiontek 2-4 (RBI, R); McConnell 1-1 (2R, RBI); Derek Crain 2-3 (2RBIs, 2R).